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  All public school children must have equal access to a high quality education regardless of where they live in Minnesota.
Legislative Update
A Communication for Parents and Education Supporters in SEE Districts		February 10, 2012

If this is your first Legislative Update from SEE - Welcome!

For those who have been with us through the years - Thank you!

SEE publishes this weekly update during the legislative session to keep you informed on issues surrounding K-12 public schools. The quality of a child's education is highly dependent on the decisions made at the State Capitol.


Brad Lundell, Executive Director for SEE, writes a blog on almost a daily basis.  For up-to-date information about what is happening at the Capitol visit Brad's Blog.
In This Issue
NCLB Waiver
School Trust Lands
This and That
Other resources
What can you do?
Quick Links
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NCLB Waiver
 Legislators returned from the caucus break on Wednesday, but the big news this week came from the federal government. Minnesota is one of 10 states that received a waiver from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements and sanctions. To qualify for the waiver, Minnesota must now develop its own system for school accountability as outlined in its waiver request application and must include these four points.

  • College and Career Readiness academic standards
  • A recognition, support and accountability system for schools 
  • A effectiveness teacher and leadership evaluation system

  • Reduction in administrative burden on school districts

     

    At a Senate Education Committee last week, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) outlined the NCLB waiver request application that Minnesota submitted. Minnesota was able to demonstrate progress on three of these points. Minnesota standards are among the most rigorous in the nation, the legislature passed a teacher evaluation system last session, and MDE is in the middle of a multi-year initiative to streamline the online reporting system used by districts.

     

    For the school accountability system, the AYP rating, which currently labels half of Minnesota schools as failing and is based solely on MCA test scores, will be discontinued. A new multi-measurement rating system (MMR) will be implemented to give schools a grade. The MMR will have four components, 1) proficiency, 2) student growth, 3) achievement gap closure and 4) graduation rates. Here's the MDE presentation that more fully explains the new MMR.

     

    This page on the SEE website has more information on NCLB and the waiver.

    • School Trust Lands

    School trust lands have the potential to generate significant funding for schools. Representative Denise Dittrich is asking superintendents, board members, administrators and parents to help build support to switch the management of the school trust land from the DNR to a separate agency. Read more here about the school trust lands and the inherent conflict of interest when the DNR is in charge.

     

    The new agency would aggressively manage the school trust lands for the benefit of Minnesota school children like Utah has done. On Monday and Tuesday, two Utah leaders will be in town to talk about the successes in Utah. Everyone is encouraged to attend one of these meetings if possible. Here is a memo from Rep. Dittrich with the details.

    This and That

    A bill that would require requiring legislative approval for the revised Social Studies standards currently in development set off sparks in the Senate Education Committee. This entry on Brad's Blog explains it in detail.

     

    On Wednesday, February 15th, the Senate Tax Committee will resume the conversation of property taxes and referendum equalization. SEE is strongly supporting SF1752-Chamberlain/HF536-Runbeck that would increase equalization. This topic was covered fully in last week's update.

     

    On Thursday, February 16th, the Senate Tax Committee has a hearing to review the Fiscal Disparities Program report. This article explains the Fiscal Disparities program. There is talk around the Capitol of eliminating this program. Fiscal Disparities redistributes 40% of any new growth in commercial and industrial tax base among the metro cities. The idea is that the metro cities are intertwinedm for example residents in one city shop in another, and parents working in one city but their child is educated in their home city. Elimination of this program would raise property taxes in many low property wealth districts. This chart shows which cities benefit and which cities contribute to the Fiscal Disparities program. If the "difference" column has a negative, that city would benefit from eliminating the Fiscal Disparities program. Rising property taxes in property poor districts reduces the chance of passing future school levies. 

     

    SEE maintains a webpage with all the scheduled committee meetings dealing with issues that could impact public education.

    Other Resources

    To read more details about the activity at the Capitol this week, check out Brad's Blog.

     

    Schedule of education committee meetings - a updated listing of education committee meetings and other committee meetings that are hearing education bills.

    What can you do?
    The decisions that will most impact our children and their schools are made at the STATE Capitol.  Since children can't advocate for themselves, it up to us to be their voice.  
           
  • Stay informed.  Take the time to read SEE Legislative Updates. I will work to keep you informed and will suggest ways that you can help.  Be prepared to act at critical times when I send out action alerts.  Action can be as simple as sending an email or making a phone call. 
  • Pass these updates on and ask your friends to sign up to receive SEE's Legislative Updates so they too can be part of our network.  Now is the time to build an education supporters network so we can respond when critical times occur during the legislative session.  In this political world, it is the voice of many that can make a difference. 
    • If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me.

     

    Deb Griffiths

    Director of Communications and Community Outreach

    Schools for Equity in Education

    612-309-0089

    deb.griffiths@schoolsforequity.org